About Me

This is Joe and I am so excited that I have landed an auto mechanic apprenticeship. I've never wanted to do anything else. I grew up watching dad tinkering with his car on weekends and the desire to be around grease and oil has been in my veins ever since.
Even though I've only been training for a year, I've learnt that car servicing and repairs are different from when I used to watch my dad. These days it is very hi-tech and involves researching online manuals when a less common car comes in. It has really made me aware that mechanics need to be well-qualified and dedicated to their job as carelessness can put you in serious danger.
I want everyone to understand the complexities of auto servicing these days and this journal is the result. I wish the very best for you and your car. Take care.

If you want to remove a rust stain on your car, the job may be best left to professionals. They will have the tools and the skills needed to remove all the rust and cover the surface with paint so that it looks brand new, and to do this without damaging any of the surrounding area of the car's body.

However, if you have some sandpaper and some experience with auto body repair, you might tackle the job yourself. Note a few commonly overlooked tips that can help you to do the job right and ensure a smooth, even finish.

1. Wash the area thoroughly

It's not enough to simply wipe down the area you'll be treating, but you want to wash it thoroughly and let it dry just as completely. Use a good sponge meant for car bodies and a detergent and rinse for several minutes. If possible, let your car sit in the sun for several hours to ensure it dries completely before you take the next steps.

2. Look for all surrounding areas that may be rusting

When treating one spot of rust you want to treat all surrounding areas so that it doesn't spread and ruin the work you do. Very often a car owner looks for a rusty red stain, but you want to look for any type of small bubbling under the paint. When a surface rusts, it creates this bubbling under the paint. Treating all these spots at once will ensure your work is protected as you remove the rust stain.

3. Sand down the surrounding area

Your technique in sanding down the rust won't do much good if you don't treat the surrounding area. You'll need to create a smooth and even plane for painting and it's best to sand around the rust and not just the stain itself to accomplish this.

4. Add more than one coat of primer

Because of how much you've sanded down the area of rust, you'll need more than one coat of primer. It's a common mistake to assume that one coat is enough, but usually several coats will be needed to prepare the surface. Wait until each coat has dried thoroughly before applying the next, and allow the last coat to dry overnight before applying paint.

After the paint is thoroughly dry, it's good to wash and then wax the surface to keep it protected and preserve the paint itself. For more tips or assistance, contact resources such as Southern Smash Repairs.